Episode 28 - Angela O'Connor
Megan Walker: So, hello and welcome to Healthcare Online. I'm Megan Walker, and today our very special guest is Angela O'Connor. Angela's part of our Scaled Health Practice Academy, and we wanted to check in with her and hear her updates, what she's been working on, and all the behind-the-scenes activities that go on to pull together a beautiful health course. So, Ange, do you want to kick us off and tell us a bit about who you help, your business, and what type of product you're pulling together?
Angela O'Connor: Yes, sure. So I'm a family therapist and couples counselor working mainly with couples now. And what I noticed was that a lot of clients come in and talk about similar things. Of course, there are unique factors, and also there's a whole lot of other underlying issues around their communication.
Yes, I found some commonality across clients specifically around communication. And I found that I was not necessarily just repeating myself, but we were covering some of the same issues around communication. So I thought, okay, and then you came along out of the blue. Well, maybe Facebook ads had something to do with it, I don't know.
But it came at a time where the timing was perfect for me. So I was so grateful to have come across your academy, and it was exactly what I needed at the time. To take a step back, I had been involved in another business program where I had a coach, and I was about eight months into that when I came across your academy.
And while that was good for a whole lot of other things around what I was looking to do in terms of buying businesses and scaling businesses not related to my field, it was really great for that. But when I stumbled across your academy, it was just perfect for what I needed at that time.
Megan Walker: And I love what you're saying about going back a little bit - you already had that sense that you had repeatable educational information that you were doing one-on-one. And so you're going to lean into that. Communication is one of those aspects that you feel people could do more and learn from home. Will you offer that so that they learn those skills in between sessions, or do you have a vision that your course will stand separately? How do you see it fitting?
Angela O'Connor: That's a good question, Megan. So I guess my target audience is really for newer relationships, teaching them some basic healthy communication skills and understanding their communication patterns and dynamics and what drives their communication. That's what I'm wanting to teach because obviously it doesn't replace therapy and it's not a substitute for couples who may be in crisis. In fact, it would be counterproductive in many cases. So it's a very clear cohort that I'm looking to support.
In saying that, I do have a couple of couples on my list, a couple of clients that have started the program, but that's because I've worked with them for a long time and I know where they're at. So I know that it's quite safe for them to undertake that. And they're also still seeing me in session so we can cover that ground as they're completing the program.
Megan Walker: I read an interesting fact—I don't know how true it is—but the number one use of ChatGPT at the moment is people asking it to give them phrases and statements they can make in their relationships that will help them communicate. And you think, well, that's not really giving the underlying skills, is it? So I'm glad we've got you and the program to have more lasting depth. So what have you put in place so far? You came across the academy, you've learned how to build an online course. What have you done so far? What's your progress?
Angela O'Connor: Well, I've got two programs ready to go. One of them is a mini program, which is a really low-ticket item that gives some basics around communication and things that couples can work on at a basic level. And then I have my signature program, which is quite in depth. There are about six modules in that program. It covers a lot of things around having your own time versus couples time, intimacy, and obviously communication as well. It's expanded around relationship issues, not just specific to the communication skills that I have built in the first mini program.
Megan Walker: Fantastic. That's so good. And have you checked in with your people and got feedback on any of your materials?
Angela O'Connor: Yes, they’ve given me feedback, and I'm getting impatient. I think I'm a very patient person, but it's dragging out now. I'm ready to go. I've also just engaged Caron to help me with that next step, because over the last couple of years, I've done a lot of work on my own, on my website. I've had some conflicting advice around what to include and what to have on that front page and what to say about yourself. And so again, when I came across Caron in your program and saw that you had used her as well, I loved your pages and your website. So even though I didn't really know Caron, I trusted that you know her. That was good enough for me. I'd rather take someone who's involved in what we're doing that knows about what we're doing as opposed to someone else.
Megan Walker: Thank you.
Angela O'Connor: Maybe that other business group that I talked about before.
Megan Walker: Beautiful. So that process is then about looking at the StoryBrand formula of how you write your website. And for those who aren’t familiar, instead of having websites that are all about me, which doesn't solve the problem for the reader, StoryBrand is about seeing the person where they are, recognising their situation and challenges, and then showing them that they can get started in a couple of steps. It's an encouraging style of writing that works really nicely for healthcare because it's non-threatening and non-salesy, but it puts the client in the hero's journey, which is beautiful for agency and ownership of the process. Clinicians and practitioners love StoryBrand for how well it relates to them.
Angela O'Connor: Exactly. That’s what stood out for me as well.
Megan Walker: It's not talking at someone; it's inviting them in and saying, here's how I can help—take it or leave it, no pressure. But this is you and what you can potentially experience by working with me. So that's really exciting. You’re going to have this nice-looking website. Are you going to take the plunge and get corporate photos done?
Angela O'Connor: I’ve done that already. They’re ready to use. It was interesting—I used someone in my network through a women’s business network that I’m involved in. She did a great job and they’ll be fine for what I need right now.
Megan Walker: How did you find that experience?
Angela O'Connor: Maybe in a couple of years I might need to update them and do something different. But right now, I think she was a good fit for where I'm at. And I'd like to support other women, especially those I’m involved with in particular networks.
Megan Walker: Yeah, I’m the same. I love that. And I think it’s really important to choose someone who takes good photos, but also that you feel really comfortable with. You get some people where you think, oh gosh, this is going to be a long experience, and others where it’s more natural. And that comes across in the photos.
Angela O'Connor: I've had some really great feedback about the images, so I'm excited. I've got all my ducks in a row. I feel like I'm getting really close now to launching.
Megan Walker: Beautiful. So exciting. Well, I can't wait to see your progress unfold. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Is there anything that would be helpful to share with other clinicians, practitioners, or therapists who are listening that you think would be helpful advice for them?
Angela O'Connor: Yeah, I think there are a couple of things. One you talk about also, and that's just progress over perfection. I know that I've been guilty of that perfection part as well, even though I knew I shouldn't be and was trying not to be. I was, and especially when I created my mini course—it's actually now my signature program. There was so much information in there. I kept going back reviewing your lessons, which again was really great because then I realized, hang on a minute, there's so much in here that it needs to be my signature program. That helped me redefine and redesign my program. So I think that's a really important tip: go back and review your videos over and over again until you’ve got what you need and where you need to be.
Megan Walker: That's such good advice. We’re all so intensely university-trained and used to the lecture model, so when we become course creators, we think that’s the volume we’ve got to share. But in the online space, it’s like an ad break—it’s got to be quick, one win, one action. The person has to feel like a legend that they’ve done it, and then they’ll move on. Whereas if we overwhelm them and they stop, they never get the transformation. It’s a hard battle for perfectionists with an over-giving tendency to accept that you’re actually helping people by pulling back.
Megan Walker: And I love that you kept going and went, all right, I'm stuck at this gate, but how can I get this gate to open? If Zoom's not my friend, then good for you to be resourceful enough to go, what else can I use instead?
Angela O'Connor: It took me a while because I hate to be defeated, and I felt like, I'm going to get this. I'll go back and watch this again. And it still didn't work. In the end I just went, why am I doing this to myself? I know I'm going to be doing this, so what else can I do? What else is out there?
Megan Walker: Good on you. That’s good—you’ve got that problem-solving mindset. If we gave up every time IT didn’t play for us, we’d just be rocking in a corner, wouldn’t we? We’ve got to just keep pushing through and finding the solution.
Angela O'Connor: Absolutely. And I think the other thing that relates to that is just believe in yourself. I had belief in myself, and when I found you, that really cemented my belief in what I was trying to achieve. So yeah, believe in yourself, do those small things every day, because that compounding effect is true. Just keep going. Don’t give up. Reach out to people in the network and seek support if you need it, but just keep going.
Megan Walker: Good. I'm so glad that we've met and that I was your “who.” There’s a great book I’m reading at the moment, The Who Not What, and sometimes you need a “who” to just make a connection of something happening.
Angela O'Connor: Yeah, you can get the what and the why, but sometimes you just need that who person first.
Megan Walker: Well done on everything you’re putting in place. I can’t wait to see it all unfold. It’s been an absolute pleasure. Thank you for chatting with us.
Angela O'Connor: Thank you.
